Eat your way to beautiful skin
We all love to try the latest skincare products, from foaming face masks to chemical peels, but before you splurge on the next skincare fad, consider your diet first - healthy skin comes from within, and when you nourish from the inside it will begin to show on the outside! Bonus: this will also help your nails and hair grow healthy too - win, win!
Our top 5 tips to eat your way to glowing skin
1. Eat a minimum of 5 portions of fruit and veg a day
This is something we have always been told to do, but how many of us can honestly say we are sticking to this rule? Fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that will help to protect your skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals, smoking, pollution and sunlight can cause wrinkling and age spots. Eat a rainbow of colourful fruit and vegetables and aim for at least five portions a day.
2. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day
Skin needs moisture to stay elasticated. Dehydration will not only cause you to be tired, but it will cause your skin to look dry, tired and dull. It's recommended to drink six to eight glasses of water a day – other fluids can count towards your daily allowance, but water is the best. Herbal, caffeine-free teas are good too.
Trick: If you work in an office, keep a large bottle of water on your desk to remind you to drink.
3. Eat foods rich in good fats
Healthy fats can be found in avocados, nuts and seeds and provide essential fatty acids which act as a natural moisturiser for your skin, keeping it healthy, supple and improving elasticity. Healthy fats also have a high dose of vitamin E, which will help protect the skin from free radical damage. Pass us the avocado on toast!
4. Cut down alcohol consumption
We all love a cheeky glass of G & T, but excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a number of skin concerns. When our liver metabolises alcohol, a byproduct is released which is toxic to skin tissues, and can lead to dehydration and premature ageing. Alcohol also causes inflammation to skin tissues which causes redness to the skin. That's not all, alcohol also dilates the pores in the skin which can lead to blackheads and acne - which explains those post night-out break outs! Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum, and ensure you are hydrating with a glass of water between drinks.
5. Avoid the junk food
While it's important to get healthy fats in our diets, we should also be cutting down on saturated and hydrogenated fats found in processed foods, as these can lead to excess oils, clogged pores and acne. Cut down on junk food and foods high in sugar, such as cakes and biscuits. Eat more raw vegetables, whole-grains and fresh fruit, these will not only benefit your skin but will help curb the junk food cravings!
It's easy to make a few changes to your diet which will improve your skin, however don't expect to see results overnight! It takes your skin six weeks to renew itself, so the visible changes from dietary changes will take just as long. These are just some of the ways changing your diet can help improve your skin, but if you would like more tips on how to get flawless skin visit our blog post here!
